a history, as one of the wisest, purest, and noblest magistrates, as one of the greatest benefactors to the human race, that have ever lived. I believe that the foundation of his whole character was a devotion to duty. To borrow a phrase from his brief and simple but most eloquent inaugural address of this it was year, his firmness in the right as God gave him to see the right" which enabled him to discharge the functions of his great office, in one of the most terrible periods of the world's history, with such rare sagacity, patience, cheerfulness, and courage. And God, indeed, gave him to see the right, and he needs no nobler epitaph than those simple words from his own lips. So much firmness with such gentleness of heart, so much logical acuteness with such almost childlike simplicity and ingenuousness of nature, so much candor to weigh the wisdom of others with so much tenacity to retain his own judgment, were rarely before united in one individual. Never was such vast political power placed in purer hands; never did a heart remain more humble and more unsophisticated after the highest prizes of earthly ambition had been obtained. Certainly "government of the people, by the people, for the people"-to quote again his own words-shall never perish from the earth so long as the American people can embody itself in a character so worthy to represent the best qualities of humanity-its courage, generosity, patience, sagacity, and integrity—as these have been personified in him who has been one of the best of rulers, and is now one of the noblest of martyrs. If it seems superfluous and almost presumptuous that I, a comparative stranger to Mr. Lincoln, although honored with his commission, should speak of him thus at length to those who shared his counsels and enjoyed his intimacy, I can only reply that the grief which, in common with every loyal American, I most profoundly feel at his death, demands an expression, and that at this distance from my country it is a consolation for me to speak of his virtues to those who knew him best. I have followed his career, and have studied every public act and utterance of his with an ever-increasing veneration for a character and an intellect which seemed to expand and to grow more vigorous the greater the demand that was made upon their strength. And this feeling, I believe, is shared not only by all Americans worthy of the name, but by all the inhabitants of foreign lands who have given themselves the trouble to study our history in this its most eventful period. I wish to conclude this despatch by requesting you to convey my most respectful compliments to President Johnson, together with my prayers for his success in administering the affairs of his great office. That he is animated with the warmest patriotism, and by a determination to meet wisely and manfully the great responsibility which has devolved upon him, we are all convinced, and I am sure that the best wishes of every patriotic heart and the counsels of the wisest minds will be ever ready to support him in the great task of reconstructing that blessed Union which traitor hands have failed, with all their efforts, to destroy. I have the honor to remain, respectfully, your obedient servant, SIR: The impression created in this capital by the horrible murder and attempts to murder just committed in Washington has been intense. The whole diplomatic corps, with scarcely an exception, have called upon me as representative of the United States, and their warm and sincere expressions of sympathy at our national loss, of cordial good-will for the Union, and, more important than all, of decided respect and admiration for the character of our lamented President, have been most grateful to my heart. The journals of the capital-all of them, as I have often had occasion to remark, conducted with great ability-have vied with each other in eloquent tributes to the virtues of Mr. Lincoln, in expressions of unaffected sympathy for the great cause of which he was the impersonation, and of horror at the accursed crime by which one of the best of men has been taken from the world. I enclose, marked A and B, the correspondence between the minister of foreign affairs and myself in relation to this event. I send, further, a translation, marked C, of the report taken from the journals of the day of the action taken on the subject in the Reichsrath. Dr. Berger, the member who pronounced the brief but feeling eulogy upon Mr. Lincoln, is one of the most distinguished and eloquent members of the house. I have the honor to remain, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. J. LOTHROP MOTLEY. ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, [Translation] MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Buenos Ayres, May 27, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to enclose your excellency a copy of the resolutions issued by the government, ordering all flags of the republic to be put at halfmast, as sign of mourning for the death of the illustrious citizen President of the United States of America. The Argentine government laments with the most profound sorrow the irreparable loss that deprives the United States of their noble President, Abraham Lincoln, whose persevering efforts were just being crowned by victory in favor of the cause of the Union. In communicating this resolution to your excellency, I take pleasure in offering my most distinguished regards. Hon. ROBERT C. KIRK, RUFINO DE ELIZALDE, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister Resident of the United States of America. [Translation.] DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Buenos Ayres, May 27, 1865. Resolved, The illustrious President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, having been assassinated just as the cause so nobly sustained by the American people was being crowned by the most splendid triumph, the Argentine government and people, sorrow stricken by the loss that deprives that great republic of the distinguished and important services of so illustrious a citizen, resolve, that in testimony of their deep regret for so irreparable a loss, the offices and other public establishments on which the national flag flies, as also the national vessels-of-war in port, keep, during the day of to-morrow, the 28th instant, their respective flags at half-mast. The present resolution to be communicated to whom it may concern for its accomplishment. WILLIAM RAWSON. RUFINO DE ELIZALDE. JOHN A. GELLY Y OBES. A correct copy: [Translation.] EDWARD TBARBAL. LEGISLATIVE CONGRESS OF THE ARGENTINE NATION, Marcos Paz, president of the congress of the Argentine nation, to the president of the Congress of the United States of America, greeting: Conscious of the loss that liberty and democracy have suffered by the death of Abraham Lincoln, the great republican, the Argentine congress joins the people of the United States in their mourning, by a resolution that its members shall wear mourning for three days, as you will see by the accompanying authentic copy of the resolution, which you will please transmit to the Congress of the Union. MARCOS PAZ. Hon. PRESIDENT of the Congress of the United States of America. [Translation.] The senate and chamber of deputies of the Argentine nation, in general assembly convened, resolve: ARTICLE 1. The senators and deputies of the Argentine people shall wear mourning for Abraham Lincoln for three days after the adoption of this resolution. ART. 2. The national banner shall remain at half-mast over the house of sessions for the three days. ART. 3. The president of the Argentine congress shall address a letter of condolence, with a copy of this resolution, to the president of the Congress of the United States. the ART. 4. Let this be promulgated, &c. Given in the hall of congress, in Buenos Ayres, on the second day of June, year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. JOSÉ E. URIBURU. BUENOS AYRES, May 28, 1865. SIR: The assassination of the illustrious republican, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, has caused in Buenos Ayres the most profound regret. The governor of this province the same as all his countrymen, moved by this execrable crime, sympathizes most heartily with your excellency for the misfortune that casts into mourning that joy caused by the recent victories obtained, that would secure the union and liberty of the great republic you so nobly represent. May it please your excellency to accept the sympathy of this province, and the respect that I have always had for the eminent citizen that the country of your excellency has just lost. I salute your excellency with most distinguished esteem. MARIANO SAAVEDRA, Governor of the Province of Buenos Ayres. His Excellency Hon. ROBERT C. KIRK, Minister Resident of the United States of America. Mr. Kirk to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] No. 115.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The awful report of the assassination of President Lincoln and the attempted assassination of yourself reached here on the 27th instant. I will not attempt to describe the intense excitement, indignation, and heartfelt sorrow it has produced throughout this part of South America. During Saturday and Sunday I had continual calls from ministers and citizens giving expression to words of condolence. On the same day the news arrived here I received a letter from the minister for foreign affairs, with a resolution passed by his government. Agreeably to that resolution, on Sunday the national and provincial flags were at half-mast, and the flags of foreign consuls followed the example. All the newspapers of this city appeared in mourning. The native press is filled with glowing editorials on President Lincoln. * * * * * * * * * It has never been my lot to witness such intense sorrow as this sad event has produced, and the universal prayer is that you may speedily be restored to health. The same mail which brought the sad news brought the news of the surrender of Lee's army. The provincial legislature has passed a decree authorizing the next town. started in this province to be named “ Lincoln.” Hoping sincerely that you may soon recover from your injuries, I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, ROBERT C. KIRK. Secretary of State. SPANISH DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE OF BUENOS AYRES. [Translation.] BUENOS AYRES, June 4, 1865. The Spanish democratic committee in this city would fail in one of its most sacred duties did it not manifest to the superior government of the United States, which you represent, the sad impression caused by the news of the assassination of the illustrious citizen, President Abraham Lincoln, the minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Seward, and all the other victims of that drama of murder and consternation. The committee earnestly wishes that the tomb of those great men may inspire their successors with fortitude and firmness, so that along with the triumph of the United States of America, republican principles may triumph wherever the want of liberty is felt. Please then, citizen minister, to lay this manifestation before the superior government of the United States, which you so worthily represent near this republic, and rely on the assurances of the most distinguished consideration and respect of the committee. By order of the committee. THE DIRECTOR. |